Electric switch



` .Sept- 15, 19.25. f 4 1,553,595

H. E. CAMPBELL ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed Jan. 18,- 1924 Fry-;

IN [(EN TOR. v

A TTORNEYS,

Patented Sept. 15, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HARRY E. CAMPBELL, 0F MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO UNION ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A l(LOltIOIEtATION OF WISCONSIN.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

Application led January 18, 1924. Serial No. 687,073.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, HARRY E. CAMPBELL, a citizen .of the United States, and resident of Milwaukee,v in the county of Milwaukee and State of lVisconsin, have invented new and useful Improvements in Electric Switches, of which the following is a description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which area part o-f this specification. 'Y l This invention relates to improvements in' electric switches more particularly, although not solely adapted for drum type switches.

It is one of the objects of the present invention to provide an electric switch which is of very compact form to permitl a number of the switches to be closely mountedtogether in a drum switch, and also permit the independent removal of said switches for repairs or replacement without disturbing adjacent switches.V Y l A further obj ect of the invention is to provide an electric switch member having a yielding engagement with al movable member in which the contact portion of the switch member may be easily removedV for replacement.

A further object of the invention is to prof vide anelectric switch having a novel spring means for yieldingly holding the contactportion in position which may be easily disengaged to permit the said contact portion to be swung to a visible position for cleaning or repairing, without disturbing the adjacent switch members.

A further obj ect of the invention is to provide an electric switch formed almost entirely of stamped or commercial metal which is of simple construction is strong'and durable vand which will secure a good electrical contact with its `cooperative contact members.

With thev above and other objects in view the invention consists of the improved electric switch and its parts and combinations as set forth in the claims, and all equivalents thereof.

In the accompanying drawing in which the same reference characters indicate the.

same parts in all of the views: Fig. 1 is a side view of the improved switch with parts shown in section;

'3 3 of Fig. 1 of the contact Fig. 2 is a top view of the contact linger; Fig. 3 is a 'sectional view taken on line finger removed from its support.;

Fig. 1 is a similar view taken on line 4--4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a side detail view; Fig..6 is a sectional detail view thereof;

Fig. 7 is a detail view of the end portion of the fingers; and

Fig. 8 is a similar view of the linger pivotal connection. Y

As the invention is particularly applicable to drum controllers the electric switch is shown as formingv part thereof but it is to be understood that the switch may be used for other types of switches. Referring to the drawing the numeral 8 indicates a rotary drum upon which ismounted a segmental Contact 9 positioned to engage the impro-ved contact linger 10. The drums of the drum Y controllers are usually provided withV a plurality of segmental contacts, and one or more elongated holders 11 Yhave contact fingers mounted thereon which engage the respectivedrum contacts.

As the contact fingers are all yalike only pne is shown with its coacting segmental con-v act. 1 L

The finger holder 11 is formed of commercial angle'iron secured to a support` in any manner desired and the edge portions o-f the holder are-.covered by strips ofinsulating material 12to insulate the contact finger bracketf13 therefrom and from each other. The said bracket 13 is formed of commercial strip metal bent into angular shape to form a'hook part 14 which extends around one edge portion of the holder, and is also bent at right'anglesat another portion to form a shoulder 15 to engagepthe opposite edge of thevholder 1l, The said bracket is then bent at'rig'ht angles as at 16 to extend away from the holder and the end portion is again bent at right angles to form a stop shoulder 17 for holding one end of the clamping member 18. The opposite end 18 of the clamping member is rounded and bears against a portion of one of the insulating strips 12 medially of the holder 11. A bolt 19 eX- tending through the bracket and medially through the clamping member and having a nut 19 threaded on its end draws the two i turning on the Yscrew 30.

therebetween and adjustably lock the brack et to the holding member.

The opposite end portion 13 of the bracket entends in a straight line and has a ulcrum Istrip 20 riveted thereto which is formed with upwardly `curved portions 21 and 22 and a'stop portion 23. The portions 21 are bifurcated or spaced apart as `shown in Fig. 8. The curved portions 21 and 22 in connect-ion with the bracket 1B for-m fulcruin openings o r eyes and in the openin-g 'formed by vthe part -22 "a vrectangular split 23 is pivotedfand a lever .arm 24- erten'ding through the ring is provi-'ded with transversely7 extending A:side slots 2li through which the curved lend port-ions 2l extend to pivot the lever arm to the bracket. The said curvedp'oi'tions 21 are-spaced l'apart to receive the slotted port/'ions of' the arm 24 therebetween and to permit th'eportions 2l to extend through the side slots. A. ile-rible braided circuit wire l25 rest'syon top olf the lever rarm 24 and extends therefrom and around the hooked portion 14- "o-'t thebracket and is connected to ia Imedial 4portion :of 'the bracket by a screw 26v lwhich also 5extends through 'the terminal l27 of a circuit 'lead wire 28 connected thereto. A YContact :finger 29 'is Imounted on the 'rr-ee 'end portion ot the lever E'ar-"m -a'n'dis connected the-reto 'by 'a screw 30 whi'ch also binds the vouter end'o't the circuit iwi1re`1'2`5 between the le-ver iarm and the 'Contact 'finger 29. The iouter end portion 31 Avof "the lever `24: isreduced in cross sectional size Vand bent outwardly to extend through 'the iopen-ing '32 in the contact finger 24E to prevent `said finger :from The "outer lend portion of fthe `contact-y arin 4is 'formed with an enlargement 29 on its inner end whiohfis of `rounded formation and bears against the rotary segment 9 to form an electrical co'nnection therebetween. threaded through the contact finger bears algainstft'he :stop portion "23 dit the fuicrum strip '2O lto :li-mit the inward movement of said finger 29 `when disengaged V7from the rotarycontact 9. 'A Ispring clip 34 engages the squared head 33' loi the sto-p screw B3 and holds 4said screw'i-n adjustedposition.

To maintain vlthe v-cont-act finger yieldingly in vposition a U- shaped jsp-ring 84 is positioned between the lever arm '24 'and the outer :portion of the 'rectangular 'ring l23. The inner portion'ofthespring is 'of l'greater length than v'the outer while the fouter fend portion iis zformed with a 'hook like-part 35 which engagesthe 'outer portion-ot the rectangular :ring 23. The tension of the spring and ,its "shape holds the 'parts in position andthe. contact yfinger in yielding engagement with the segment and if it is 'desired to 'smooth ofi 'the face 'of the l'finger it is only `necessary to dis/engage the spring from A stop screw '33 the ring and swing the ring to the right and then the lever arm and the finger may be swung outwardly away from the segmental contact and expose the working tace of the finger for cleaning. lf it is desired to replace the linger it isonly necessary Vto vremove the screw 30 and the replacement may be easily made. y

As Vthe side edge portions vof the'fingers extend approximately in straight lines a .plurality 'of' the fingers may be placed in parallel spaced relation quite close together and any one of the lingers .repaired or replaced 'wit'hout disturbing the others.

From .thev 'foregoing description it 'will be seen that the electric switch is of :simple construction, is strong and durable and is welfl 'adapted for the purpose described.

'hat l claim as my )invention is:

l. In van `electric switch, in combination, aisupport, a iinger bracket mounted 'thereon and having an eyed portion extending in y'a plane parallel to Vthe engaged portion of the bracket, -a lever'arm pivotaiiy yconnected to Jche eyed portion, a ring pivotally connected to the finger bracket and extending around the lever -'arm,1a contact finger connected tto the lever arm and projecting "outwardly therefrom, and a spring means `interposed between the lever arm and la portion ofk the ring for yield-ingly holding the :contact finger 2in position.

rv2. In an electric switch, Vin combination, a support, a finger bracket mounted thereon and having eyed portions 'extending in a plane'parallel to theengaiged portion of the bracket, fa ring pivotally connected `to one of the eyed portions, va 'lever :arm pivetally extending xthrough the other eyed portion and also through the ring, a contact finger connected tothe lever Aarm and :projecting outwardly ',thereirom, a spring 'means `interposed between 'thelever arm land .a portion of the ring ,for vyieldingly holding the .contact finger in its inner position, and means for flimit'ing the -inner movement 'offsaid "conf tact finger.

3. In an electric switch, in combination., a support, a Efinger bracket mounted thereon, a rulcrum forming part oftlieiinger .bracket and'providing twoie'yes in connection therewitlnfa ring'pivotally extending through one ofthe eyes, `a lever arm pivotally1 connected to lthe 'other feyed 'portion and extending through the ring, a contact finger cone nected to the lever varm :and proj'ectin-g outwardly therefrom, a spring Imeans interposed between the lever @arm and Va :portion :of .the ring'foryieldinglyholding the contactifinger in its inner position, a flexible circuitmeans connecting k,the .contact yfinger to the liinger bracket part, :and `means 'tor limit-ing the inner movement `of said .contact finger.

I'nanzelectric switch, in combination, a support, 1an angular' ffinger bracket mounted thereon, a fulcrum strip formin-g part of the linger bracket and providing two eyesl in connection therewith, a rectangular ring pivotally extending through one of the eyes, a lever arm pivotally connected to the other eyed portion and extending through the ring,'a contact finger mounted on the lever arm and projecting outwardly therefrom and having a contact head formed thereon, a Ushaped spring interposed between a portion of the ring and the lever arm for yieldingly holding the contact finger in its inner position, a flexible circuit means connecting the contact finger to the finger bracket, and a stop screw carried by the contact finger' for limiting the inward movement of said contact finger.

5. In an electric switch, in combination, an angular support, an angular finger bracket having portions which hook around said support, a clamping member associated with said bracket to connect the same to said support, a fulcrum strip forming part of said bracket and providing two eyes in connection with the bracket, a rectangular ring pivotally connected to one eye, a lever arm pivotally connected to the other eyed portion and extending through the ring, a contact finger mounted on the lever arm and projecting outwardly therefrom and having a contact head formed on its outer end, a U-shaped spring removably interposed between a portion of the ring and the lever arm for yieldingly holding the contact finger in its inner position, a flexible circuit means connecting the contact linger to the finger bracket, a cable terminal connected to the circuit means, and a stop screw extending through the contact nger and engaging the fulcruin strip part for limiting the inward movement of said contact finger.

6. An electric switch, comprising a support formed of angled metal having its edge portions covered with an insulating material, an angular finger bracket extending around said edge portions, and projecting outwardly therefrom, a clamping member engaging one side portion of the insulating material and an angled portion of the bracket, a screw extending through the clamping member and the bracket for clamping the support therebetween, a fulcrum strip forming part of the bracket and providing inner eye portions and a medial eye and a stop portion, a rectangular ring pivotally connected to the medial eye and projecting upwardly therefrom, a lever arm having transverse side slots at its inner end through which the inner eyed portions of the fulcrum member extend, said lever arm extending through the ring and having an angularly projecting end portion, a contact finger mounted on the lever arm and having an opening into which the angular end portion extends and also having an enlargement on its outer end, a fiexible circuit means connected to the contact finger, a U-shaped spring bearing on the circuit means and having a hook shaped end 'portion which removably bears against the outer portion of the ring for yieldingly holding the contact finger in its inner position, and a stop screw extending through the contact finger and engaging the stop portion of the fulcrum strip part for limiting the inward movement of said contact finger.

In testimony whereof, I aiiix my signature.

HARRY E. CAMPBELL. 

